GOD SAVES

The 14th Sunday after Pentocost

HABAKKUK 3:18 (ABP)
Even if the world around me falls apart, I'll continue to find joy and gladness in GOD, because he saves me from the forces of chaos.

LUKE 15:20 (MSG)
When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.

THE ESSENCE
God is passionate about saving us in the midst of our troubles.

DAILY FODDER
For some reason, God doesn't always spare us from the forces of chaos and trouble, but he chooses to save us out of those circumstances. Take heart. You know what to expect when difficulty comes at you.

PRAYER 
Glorious God, thank you for sending your Son into the world to release us from the grasp of sin. You are our Savior! Forgive me for allowing discouragment to take over when trouble comes, as though l don't already have an eternal champion on my side. Wrap me in your embrace and help me to realize the security of your kiss. I know that even if the chaos is of my own doing, you are still here for me as a welcoming Savior. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

STAND YOUR GROUND

PSALM 56:11 (CEB)
I trust in God; I won’t be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?

ACTS 9:31 (MSG)
Things calmed down after that and the church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country—Judea, Samaria, Galilee—the church grew.

THE ESSENCE
We don't have to stress out when people pushback against the Gospel because God’s protection can override any opposition.

DAILY FODDER
If God is so in charge of the situation why do so many people end up dying because of their faith in Christ Jesus? 

PRAYER 
I'm grateful, God, for your protection and for times of peace. Forgive us for acting as though death and opposition somehow have the final word. Help me to face pushback confident that everything is under your ultimate control and that even if I die (like Christ) it won't be in vain. I'm going to excercise my faith in you with confidence. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

SAFETY ZONE

PROVERBS 3:25-26 (GNT)
   You will not have to worry about sudden disasters... The LORD will keep you safe.

MATTHEW 14:26-27 (GNT)
   When they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. “It's a ghost!” they said, and screamed with fear.
   Jesus spoke to them at once. “Courage!” he said. “It is I. Don't be afraid!”

THE ESSENCE
Jesus is our safety zone.

DAILY FODDER
Practically speaking, how do you turn your worries over to Jesus, disarming fear? 

PRAYER 
From wars that wreak destruction to storms that overwhelm, we are reminded how frail life can be and how quickly tragedy can appear. Delivering Savior, help me not to seek perfect worldly security as a defense against the unpredictable but to act in the confidence that comes from knowing you have conquered death for my sake. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

FULLFILLED

EZEKIEL 12:25 (GNT)
I, the Lord, will speak to them, and what I say will be done. There will be no more delay.

GALATIANS 3:8 (MSG)
It was all laid out beforehand in Scripture that God would set things right with non-Jews by faith. Scripture anticipated this in the promise to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed in you.”

THE ESSENCE
In his time God fulfills his promises to include people from everywhere in his family.

DAILY FODDER
I need to accept that God's timing is often at odds with mine.

PRAYER 
I'm grateful, God, that you are a person of his word. I'm definitely a beneficiary of your promise to include people from all nations in your family. Forgive us for our ongoing tribalism. You're looking out for the whole world and we're looking for reasons to exclude anyone who ain't us. Nurture a global godly perspective among us. I'm trusting that in your time your promises will reach a higher level of fulfillment. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.